Following JonB's idea of re-looking at the prizes has anyone any ideas?

yeah grumpy unsmiling people have them taken back.

How about this:

1 - outline the rules clearly and fairly on the
entry form
2 - don't leave ambiguities so glaring that a
child could spot them
3 - don't bull**** at the prize-giving
4 - give the prizes to those have rightfully won
them
5 - don't respond to any queries or criticism by
saying absolutely nothing/burying your heads
in the sand
6 - treat the people who pay the entry fees like
responsible adults, not annoying 'entry fodder'.
7 - re-read the previous thread re A&H and ask
yourself how you've got the gall to ask for
positive feedback amidst such appalling event
management
8 - implement numbers 1-7, then sit back and
watch that pig fly

As the majority of teams enter not for prizes but for the challenge of the event why not drop prizes altogether?
Not many teams stay for the prize giving anyway, including those who have won so we could all get off home earlier.
Just a radical thought but it has some merit.

I agree with DXB - does anyone seriously enter the event just because of the winner's prizes?
The vast majority enter for the fun/challenge/comradeship/scenery of it, so for them the winner's prizes are irrelevant.
Talking to the real challengers for the podium, my experience is that their interest is as for the above group, plus the competitive challenge, again not the prizes.
If you want to award prizes to make the event more appealing to all entrants, then make them all spot prizes.
Then just award some trophies/medals to the winners.
This works in running and road bike events,so why not the PC?

"Disappointed"`s comments sum it all up & need little embellishment except that it probably doesn`t matter until/unless Polaris sort out this mess.
I hope most people who know what`s happened would want to make sure as many others as possible are told & keep the pressure up.
The last time I felt this militant Winston Churchill was still alive,God no he was still PM!

I must admit to hugely enjoying the contributions to the other current thread regarding the mysterious prize allocation.

Reacting positively to Rog's request for ideas regarding an alternative prize strategy, I suggest the following: -

1) Award nominal trophies for winners of individual categories and the overall winner/winners (as suggested by Phil)

2) Recognise those who have taken part in a landmark number of events (say 20 or 25). A token momento might be nice - just to recognise the contribution that these enthuthiastic riders make to the overall atmosphere of the event.

I recall that there used to be an award for achieving 5,000 and 10,000 points. This award seems to have been abandoned...not sure why

I have a really radical suggestion.
Why don't Polaris actively publicise who wins whatever, be it two really good Fishers for the mens pair that came last this spring, and those prizes awarded on merit?
That way their sponsors might actually stay with them a bit longer.
I can't believe that it isn't possible to put out a press release after each event.
I thought this came under the heading of 'Taking care of business'.

Two Fishers? I wish I'd known, I wouldn't have
gone for any checkpoints!

This thread doesn't deserve a reply until the question answered on the thread regarding the mixed prize. Poor show Polaris

I have actively publicised the fact that we won the two Fishers during the Spring event. It was a real achievement to cock the event up that badly! Just in case anybody wasn't sure we didn't know of the existance of the prize until the prize giving. Sorry about that Jerry we didn't mean it! However, once I had suffered the embarassment I made sure we got the prizes.
Unfortunately my track record meant nobody wanted to team up with me for the Autumn!

Not your job to publicise it Pete {I too have come last].
I haven't seen a single press release.
Polaris seem to think it's good enough just to reward their sponsors with event banners leading up to the event.
Perhaps this explains why they don't hang on to them.

I don't remember them ever actively chasing publicity after the event, out of sight out of mind; which incidentally used to cover more than publicity.

Wait though Karen has just managed to insert a press release into MBUK! Apparently 150 teams did the autumn event [and the results were cocked up as well].

To be fair to Graham [again] he has mentioned recently that they have missed Andy's publicity expertise since he left.
As Andy has been the only one of the three to compete [he did so again this autumn] he perhaps also has had an insight otherwise slightly lacking.

Hi All,
I have competed in 7 or 8 Polaris since '98 and not once have I ever got close to winning a prise, nor will i ever. However this isn't why most of us enter them obviously, having survived each event it is nice to brag/describe the heroic tales of the weekend to all of those work mates etc. This is usually accompanied by wearing the T-shirt (when they are not in bright orange or green!)and showing the car sticker. So how about more of the same i.e badges or other clothing items, branded with event details which Polaris can sell to those that have no chance of winning anything.
My girlfriend eventually competed in her first (and it seems only!)Polaris last summer and was very disapointed at not getting something to take away that showed she had competed in, what was for her a very challenging event. I know the summer events are not as hard but some momento to show you were there would be a good idea, not only that they must make Polaris some profit and it's advertising too. After all you get a T-shirt when you go to just about any other sporting event/rock concert etc. just for spectating!

I think prizes are a good idea for the best competitors incidentally.

Thanks, Fishy Dave

DXB gets my vote ....
Drop the prizes and revert to the original spirit of surviving/enjoying the challenge.
use the money saved to reinstate the car stickers ... my old Escort was looking good with a rear window slowly disapperaing under them and I for 1 miss them. Include the sponsors name on them then they get advertising all year round all over the place not just on the weekend at the event.

I totally agree with the idea that everyone should get badges and T shirts. Most people haven't got a hope of getting into the prizes, but completion of the event in itself is an achievement.

All the long distance rides I've done over the last couple of years have offered a free T shirt.

Is is me or do Polaris appear to be losing their way? Just a few points noted:-

1. The disgrace over the mixed prize
2. The web site has gone seriously downhill - not accurate or updated regularly.
3. Lack of research into whether people were prepared for the extra cost and hassle of IOM.
4. PR - now non existent - they used to be in magazines all the time. Surely an article on IOM tied in with polaris would have been an easy sell to MBR - mind you if you never advertise they're not going to help.

Is there now a general lack of enthusiasm from the Polaris team? It would be such a shame if such an excellent event went downhill.

John
The event is not going downhill, we are committed to maintaining the quality of the event but we have been experiencing some unexpected problems with IOM and the Navitac.

1 Yes we did not handle the mixed prize very well, thanks for the reminder
2 Web site is in need of an overhaul, which we are on with
3 We did our research into IOM but FMD meant we had to cancel last year and that meant a date change.
4 We send out press releases to all magazines but the PC is old news and is difficult to gain the interest of editors.

There is no lack of enthusiasm from the Polaris team we are just facing a few unexpected problems at the moment that is taking a lot of time to sort out.

WRT prizes, we have never given away free T shirts but we should reinstate the car stickers. T shirts are never free there is always a cost and we have always taken the view that rather than give away a cheap T shirt that would soon become a duster we would sell quality shirts that people can wear. But if you all want Tees then we can easily stick the cost on the entry fee.

As for badges/certificates then there are arguments from both sides, those that want them and those that don't.

But as most of you do the event for the challenge and the craich then I still favour a reduction in the prizes and the issue of a small momento of the event to all successful finishers.

PLEASE NO T-SHIRTS. I agree with Graham
that free T-shirts are generally very low quality
and not really worth having. I suppose you
could have them for those who want them but
please don't be offended when I give mine
back.

I think random spot prizes are a good idea. It
is nice to win something if you don't generally.
Give beer to the winners. Its what they like.

It's a mystery to me why opposition to a night time event during the moorland bird nesting season from the nature conservation agencies should be a surprise to Polaris. I did mention it to Roger at the lake district, but I didn't think at the time that it had registered.
With the new powers in the CROW bill it could set a very nasty precedent.

For goodness sake Jerry - this is the prize
whinge thread - the general incompetence
whinge thread is over there ---->

I thank Dave Smitheram for not blaming his partner (old, fat me) for always winning diddly squat. Personally I blame Dave for too many picnic/ comfort breaks. But I'm Navitacking with him if the bird folk allow. Yes, bring back the stickers. I now have the appearance of being a top man at events but only because I'm still driving the same motor I drove to Kielder in Spring 96 so I'm still showing all those old stickers.

Brief moments of glory Mick, brief moments